Caropagia Plant Named &#34;Marel&#34;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Ceropegia woodii plant named ‘Merel’ which is characterized by a trailing habit, small narrowly cordate to near-deltoid foliage, conspicuously variegated foliage that is broadly margined white, a fast rate of growth, as well as the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rightsapplication number 2022/1479, filed Jun. 13, 2022, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Ceropegia linearis E.Mey. subsp. woodii (Schltr.) H. Huber syn. Ceropegia woodi.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The inventive variety of Ceropegia disclosed herein has been given thevariety denomination ‘Merel’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: The new plant originated as a spontaneous, partial-plant,branch mutation. The branch mutation was discovered at a greenhouse inHonselersdijk, The Netherlands, in March of 2020, growing amongst aplurality of cultivated Ceropegia woodii ‘Green Love’ (not patented)plants. The mutation exhibited conspicuously variegated foliage andimproved vigor, relative to the parent. From said mutated branch, aplurality of cuttings was harvested, rooted, and grown to a mature sizein order to evaluate stability and uniqueness of the characteristicsfirst observed. Of these new plants, most exhibited at least some degreeof reversion in the foliage color, back to that of the parentalphenotype. All plants that showed reversion were discarded, while stemcuttings were harvested from those plants that retained the uniquevariegation. This process was repeated several times until all progenyfrom an individual cutting-grown plant retained the characteristicsfirst observed in March of 2020. This specific ortet was selected forcommercialization and given the name, ‘Merel’.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Merel’,by way of softwood stem cuttings, was first initiated in March of 2022in Honselersdijk, The Netherlands. Through more than 6 subsequentgenerations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to bestable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Merel’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘Merel’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘Merel’ as a new and distinct Ceropegia cultivar:

-   -   1. Ceropegia ‘Merel’ exhibits relatively small, narrowly cordate        to near-deltoid foliage; and    -   2. Ceropegia ‘Merel’ exhibits prominently variegated foliage        that is green with the veins and areas of the laminar surface        immediately adjacent to veins colored with a light greyed-green;        and    -   3. Ceropegia ‘Merel’ exhibits foliage that is broadly margined        with white margins; and    -   3. Ceropegia ‘Merel’ exhibits a fast growth rate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary 5-month-old‘Merel’ plant in a 14 cm nursery pot, grown in a greenhouse inHonselersdijk, The Netherlands.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the mature foliage of‘Merel’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the flower of ‘Merel’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements were made in August of 2022and describes a 5-month-old ‘Merel’ plant grown in a 14 cm nursery potgrown in a greenhouse in Honselersdijk, The Netherlands. Plants weregrown using conventional greenhouse production protocols for Ceropegiawhich consisted of growing under 50 percent shade with regular overheadirrigation and fertilizer applications as needed. Pesticides were usedto control thrips, but no pest or disease control measures wereotherwise utilized in production. No photoperiodic treatments orartificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘Merel’ hasnot been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climactic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘Merel’ and comparisons with the parent andmost similar commercial variety of Ceropegia are provided below.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Evergreen trailing vine perennial.        -   Average height from base to top of foliage.—In a hanging            basket, the plant is 97.0 cm from the top of the floral            plane to the apex of the lowest trailing stem.        -   Average width.—21.5 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast growing.        -   Plant vigor.—Highly vigorous.        -   Propagation method.—Softwood stem cuttings; rooting is in            initiated in approximately 14 days, when grown in a            greenhouse with an ambient average temperature of 20 degrees            Celsius.        -   Time to produce a finished plant.—Approximately 5 months is            required to produce a fully rooted and marketable 14 cm            plant when grown under greenhouse conditions.        -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Plants have            not been observed to be susceptible or resistant to            pathogens and pests common to Ceropegia woodii.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to at least USDA Zones 8 and            12; moderate tolerance to rain; high tolerance to wind;            moderate tolerance to drought.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Caudices at the base of main stems, at and slightly            below the soil level, give rise to a moderately dense            network of fleshy roots.        -   Distribution in the soil profile.—Roots are relatively            shallow.        -   Texture.—Fleshy; no root hairs present.-   Stem:    -   -   Branching habit.—Basally branching main stem; freely            branching with lateral branches.        -   Number of main stems per plant.—15.        -   Number of lateral branches per plant.—10.        -   Aspect.—Rounded.        -   Length of main stems.—67.8 cm.        -   Diameter of main stems.—0.125 cm at the widest point.        -   Internode length on main stems.—7.0 cm.        -   Attitude.—Prostrate; weeping, when grown in a hanging            basket.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Texture and luster—Glabrous and matte.        -   Color, juvenile.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 152A, and            finely blotched with a lighter shade of yellow-green,            nearest to RHS 147D.        -   Color, mature.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 148B, and finely            blotched with a lighter shade of yellow-green, nearest to            RHS 147D.        -   Color at internodes.—Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 148B, and            finely blotched with a lighter shade of yellow-green,            nearest to RHS 147D; suffused with greyed-purple, nearest to            RHS N186C.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Quantity.—Average of 20 leaves per lateral branch.        -   Lamina.—Dimensions — 2.3 cm long and 1.9 cm wide, on            average. Shape — Narrow cordate to near deltoid. Aspect —            Flat. Apex — Acute. Base — Cordate to shallowly truncate.            Margin — Entire; not undulated. Pubescence, texture and            luster of adaxial surface — Glabrous, smooth, and matte.            Pubescence, texture and luster of abaxial surface —            Glabrous, smooth, and matte. Color — Juvenile foliage,            adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146C;            blotched greyed-green, nearest to RHS 192A; veins are            greyed-green, nearest to RHS 192A; irregularly and narrowly            margined white, nearest to RHS 155A. Juvenile foliage,            abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 148D;            irregularly and narrowly margined white, nearest to a            mixture of RHS 155A and N155B. Mature foliage, adaxial            surface — Green, nearest to a combination of RHS 137C and            NN137A; veins and areas of the laminar surface immediately            adjacent to veins is greyed-green, nearest to RHS 188C;            irregularly and broadly margined white, nearest to RHS 155C.            Mature foliage, abaxial surface — Greyed-green, nearest to            RHS 191C; often but not always suffused with greyed-purple,            nearest to RHS N187C; irregularly and broadly margined            white, nearest to RHS 155C. Venation — Pattern — Pinnate.            Venation color, adaxial surface — Greyed-green, nearest to            RHS 188C. Venation color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green,            nearest to RHS 147B.        -   Petiole.—Length — 0.5 cm. Width — 0.1 cm. Texture — Smooth            and glabrous. Luster — Matte. Strength — Moderately strong.            Color, adaxial surface — Greyed-red, nearest to RHS 182D.            Color, abaxial surface — Greyed-red, nearest to RHS 182D.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Cyme.        -   Natural flowering season.—Late June through early August in            Honselersdijk, the Netherlands.        -   Dimensions.—Approximately 3.3 cm long, including peduncle,            and 6.0 cm wide.        -   Quantity of open flowers and buds per inflorescence.—4.        -   Attitude.—Pendulous.        -   Peduncles.—Length — Average of 1.1 cm. Diameter — Average of            0.6 cm. Attitude — Outward, at an approximate angle of 30            degrees from horizontal. Strength — Moderately strong.            Texture and luster — Smooth, glabrous and matte. Color —            Greyed-green, nearest to RHS 197B.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Narrowly oblong.        -   Dimensions.—7.0 mm long and 1.5 mm in diameter.        -   Color.—Immature sepals and corolla tube are yellow-green,            nearest to RHS 150D; immature petals are greyed-orange,            nearest to RHS N170D.        -   Texture.—Smooth and glabrous.        -   Luster.—Slightly glossy.-   Flower:    -   -   Form.—Tubulate; the corolla is fused into a floral tube,            swollen at the base, with free petal lobes, distally, which            are fused at their apices.        -   Attitude.—Outward to upright.        -   Lastingness.—Approximately 14 days.        -   Persistence.—Not persistent; self-cleaning.        -   Fragrance.—Not fragrant.        -   Flower depth.—2.3 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—0.4 cm.        -   Diameter of floral throat.—0.3 cm.        -   Floral throat texture.—Glabrous; smooth.        -   Diameter of floral tube.—0.3 cm at the distal end; at the            base, where the floral tube is swollen, the diameter is 0.4            cm.        -   Length of floral tube.—1.7 cm.        -   Floral tube texture.—Glabrous; smooth.        -   Pedicels.—Attitude — Outward, at an average angle of 25            degrees to the peduncle; varying from 10 to 60 degrees.            Dimensions — 6.0 mm long and 0.5 mm in diameter. Strength —            Moderately strong. Texture and luster — Smooth, glabrous,            and matte. Color — Greyed-green, nearest to RHS 197C.        -   Petals.—Quantity of Petals — 5. Arrangement — The petals are            fused into a long floral tube, with a single whorl of free            petal lobes, distally. Attitude of petal lobes — Curved            inward, particularly at and near the apex, and fused to all            other petal lobes at the apex, forming a “cage” over the            floral throat. Shape of petal lobes — Narrowly spatulate.            Aspect of petal lobes — Strongly carinate and irregularly            twisted. Dimensions, free portion of petals — 0.6 cm long            and 0.2 cm wide. Apex — Near-obtuse yet appearing as            near-acute used. Base — Truncate; fused at the base. Margin            — Entire and ciliate; hairs are 0.3 mm in length and are            colored with a mixture of greyed-purple and black, nearest            to RHS N186A and 202A. Petal lobes are not undulated.            Pubescence, texture and luster of outer surface — Smooth,            glabrous, and slightly glossy. Pubescence, texture and            luster of inner surface — Smooth, glabrous and matte.            Corolla tube color when opening, inner surface — Swollen            portion of the floral tube near the base of the corolla is            greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 186B; narrower portion of the            floral tube is purple, nearest to RHS N77A. No visible            venation. Corolla tube color when opening, outer surface —            Swollen portion of the floral tube near the base of the            corolla is greyed-green, nearest to a combination of RHS            198C and 198D; narrower portion of the floral tube is a            mixture of purple and greyed-red, nearest to RHS 75C and            182D. No visible venation. Petal lobe color when opening,            inner surface — Nearest to a mixture of greyed-purple and            black, RHS N186A and 202A. No visible venation. Petal lobe            color when opening, outer surface — Nearest to a mixture of            greyed-purple and black, RHS N186A and 202A. No visible            venation. Corolla tube color when fully open, inner surface            — Swollen portion of the floral tube near the base of the            corolla is greyed-green, nearest to a combination of RHS            198C and 198D; narrower portion of the floral tube is a            mixture of purple and greyed-red, nearest to RHS 75C and            182D. No visible venation. Corolla tube color when fully            open, outer surface — Swollen portion of the floral tube            near the base of the corolla is greyed-purple, nearest to            RHS 186B; narrower portion of the floral tube is purple,            nearest to RHS N77A. No visible venation. Petal lobe color            when fully opened, inner surface — Greyed-purple, nearest to            RHS N186A. No visible venation. Petal lobe color when fully            opened, outer surface — Greyed-purple, nearest to RHS N186A.            No visible venation. Floral throat color — Nearest to a            mixture of purple and greyed-red, RHS 75C and 182D. No            visible venation. Corolla tube color when faded, inner            surface — Colors do not fade. No visible venation. Corolla            tube color when faded, outer surface — Swollen portion of            the floral tube near the base of the corolla is            greyed-green, nearest to RHS 198D; narrower portion of the            floral tube is greyed-red, nearest to RHS 182D yet lighter.            No visible venation. Petal lobe color when faded, inner            surface — Nearest to a mixture of greyed-purple and black,            RHS N186A and 202A. No visible venation. Petal lobe color            when faded, outer surface — Nearest to a mixture of            greyed-purple and black, RHS N186A and 202A. No visible            venation.        -   Calyx.—Shape — Rotate; single whorl of sepals. Dimensions            —0.4 cm in diameter and 0.2 cm deep. Sepals — Arrangement —            Sepals are rotate and fused at the base. Quantity — 5. Shape            — Linear. Dimensions — 2.0 mm long and 0.4 mm wide. Apex —            Narrow acuminate. Base — Cuneate; fused. Margin — Entire;            not undulated. Pubescence, texture and luster, upper surface            — Smooth; glabrous; matte. Pubescence, texture and luster,            lower surface — Smooth; glabrous; matte. Color when opening,            inner surface — White, nearest to RHS N155B. Color when            opening, outer surface — White, nearest to RHS N155B. Color            when fully opened, inner surface — White, nearest to RHS            N155B. Color when fully opened, outer surface — White,            nearest to RHS N155B.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   General description.—Stamens and pistils are adnated into a            gynostegium.        -   Dimensions.—Approximately 1.2 mm long and 1.0 mm wide.        -   Color.—Reduced filaments are a combination of white and            greyed-yellow, nearest to RHS N155A, 160C, and 160D; reduced            anthers are greyed-orange, nearest to RHS 164A; reduced            pistils are white, nearest to RHS N155A.        -   Pollen, amount.—Pollen is sparse and massed into globular            pollinia at the base of the gynostegium.        -   Pollinia color.—Greyed-orange, nearest to RHS 164A.        -   Ovary color.—Greyed-purple, nearest to RHS N186B.-   Seed and Fruit: To date, seeds and fruit have not been observed.-   Comparisons with the parent plant: Plants of the new cultivar    ‘Merel’ differ from Ceropegia woodii ‘Green Love’ (not patented)    parent by the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘Merel’ ‘Green Love’ Rate of growth.Faster-growing than Slower-growing ‘Green Love’. than ‘Merel’.Expression Adaxial foliar surface is Adaxial foliar of foliage green andstrongly colored surface is green variegation. with greyed-green alongthe with light greyed- veins and areas of the green mottling. laminarsurface adjacent to veins.

-   Comparison with the most similar Ceropegia cultivar known to the    inventor: Plants of the new cultivar ‘Merel’ differ from the    commercial variety, Ceropegia ‘Variegata’ (not patented), in the    following characteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘Merel’ ‘Variegata’ Rate of Faster-growing thanSlower-growing growth. ‘Variegata’. than ‘Merel’. Foliage Narrow cordateto near Broadly cordate shape. deltoid. to nearly-round. Foliage size.Smaller than ‘Variegata’. Larger than ‘Merel’. Presence of Adaxialfoliar surface is Adaxial foliar foliage green and strongly surface isgreen variegation. colored with greyed- with light greyed- green alongthe veins green mottling and and areas of the often suffused laminarsurface with red-purple. adjacent to veins.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct Ceropegia woodii plantnamed ‘Merel’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.